Part 6 ~ Chapter 39

Wow, what a lesson! I have to admit, my brain hurts a little from trying to absorb and hold onto every single truth and tool displayed in the reading.

This is yet another chunk of our study I'll want to go back and review long after our journey together ends.

This chapter has me flipping back to Ephesians 6: I'm specifically looking at verses 10-18 that describe "the whole armor of God."

What would happen if you got up every morning and, before anything else, put on the whole armor of God?

While I'm not asking you to share private information, I do encourage you to give serious thought to the discussion questions on page 286 for this chapter. If you feel led to share, please do so. Someone may need to hear your story.

Consider strongholds in your life, how they gain strength, how your insecurities feed them, and the excuses and/or reasons you use for not taking these strongholds captive to Christ (paraphrased questions from page 286).

I pray that you experience the transforming power of God as you face these issues head on, fully clothed in the garments He has provided you with for battle.

Stop, Drop and Pray

Part 6 ~ Chapter 38

As we turn the page to begin Part 6, I'm sad to know that we're near the end of our journey together. What makes me smile, though, is that we are on our way to freedom and living the life God intends for us!

I hope you are smiling today!

On the first page of Chapter 38, I am thrilled to find out that we will be working on developing a steadfast mind.

I believe that being transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) is one of the very first steps to take in drawing closer to God.

Some of you have heard me "preach this sermon" before. If you have, please review. If this is your 1st time hearing it, please absorb the rich truth.

We are made of 3 parts: Soul (mind, will and emotions), Sprit (heart) and Body (physical self).

I believe, that in order to become whole and fit, one must begin in the soul and make up his/her mind to change. It's also important to develop a steadfast mind so that your renewed mind can be firm and unwavering on the truth. You can work on your physical structure all year long and develop a heart of gold, but if you're not in your right mind, you may quickly fall prey to the enemy.

This is serious stuff.

Our minds are a battlefield and spiritual warfare is constantly being waged over our heads (Ephesians 6:12).

While I could take up hours of your time talking about all of this, I encourage you to research God's Word for the truth and talk to a pastor who has studied this topic extensively. I am still learning, but I'll be happy to share my knowledge with you as well.

The truth will set you free (John 8:32).

* Now, I typed all that after reading just the first page (2 paragraphs) of Chapter 38 ; ), so, you can probably imagine how much I have to say on this topic. : )

I'll try to let Beth Moore and God do most of the talking, but I'd like to add a few "Amens":

"Few biblical subjects are more controversial than spiritual warfare and the battlefield of the mind" (page 222).

"He will give us perfect peace in our imperfect minds" (page 223).

"Just as surely as the kingdom of God prospers when we are steadfast in Him, so our own hears and minds benefit" (page 223).

I pray that you rest in Him today and use His word as your pillow. ; )

Stop, Drop and Pray

p.s. While I can't remember the exact day, I do remember warning you about satan trying to keep you from a particular section. This is another one. I have no doubt that the enemy will try everything in his power to keep you from completing this section of our study. Don't give in to the enemy! Be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)!

Part 5 ~ Chapter 37

I believe that different aspects of God's love have greater meaning at different times in our lives.

So...

Based on discussion question #4 in the back of the book, I'd like to ask you this question today:

Right now, what aspect of God's love means the most to you? Why?

Leadership, Salvation, Mercy, Comfort, Defense, Other

For me, it's definitely mercy at the moment. I have been overwhelmed by His mercy and Fatherly Love lately. It means so much to me that God looks at me with the eyes of a Loving Father and has mercy on my soul!

No matter where you've come from, no matter what you've done, you can trust God to forgive every sin and redeem you from the pit in which you live.

Sweet Mercy!

Stop, Drop and Pray. Thank the Lord today!

Part 5 ~ Chapter 36

"Belief is not a feeling. It's a choice."

Beth Moore

What a statement! I know I'm guilty of sitting around and waiting for myself to fully believe when the power has been "in my head" all along. The mind is a part of the soul, so the ability to believe rests within the soul (mind, will and emotions). It's not something that just happens: You have to be willing to believe.

Have you ever been sick for so long that you forgot what being well felt like?

I certainly have.

In fact, I've been sick for so long that I have (at times) believed I would never get better. Talk about unbelief!

This chapter reminds me that we are made of 3 parts: Soul, Spirit and Body

Every part affects each other.

I believe it's possible for unbelief (or any other "soul sickness") to manifest itself in our spirit and/or body. Along the same lines, when our physical body is sick our spirit and soul are affected.

When you feel sick, try to examine all aspects of your self.

You may find that the real, deep rooted problem is something you never thought possible.

Stop, Drop and Pray

p.s. I'm finding that it's often difficult to keep these posts short. ; ) There is so much to glean from each chapter. Feel free to discuss any aspect of your reading and/or answers to study questions in the comments section below.

Part 5 ~ Chapter 35

In the secret

In the quiet place

In the stillness

You are there

In the secret

In the quiet hour I wait only for You

Cause, I want to know You more

I want to know You

I want to hear Your voice

I want to know You more

I want to touch You

I want to see Your face

I want to know You more

I am reaching for the highest goal

That I might receive the prize

Pressing onward

Pushing every hindrance aside

Out of my way

Cause, I want to know You more.

Lyrics from I Want To Know You by Sonicflood

While I love this entire song, there is a key part that sticks out to me - "pushing every hindrance aside, out of my way."

Often times, we don't allow God complete and total access to our hearts because of our "hang ups." We read this at the end of Chapter 35, we've heard it before and I've even said it in front of an audience of 30+ women.

This is a big hindrance to experiencing the fullness of God's love - not allowing Him to fill the empty places that we've stuffed with stuff... only hoping to find satisfaction.

You have to allow God to have access to the deepest, dirtiest rooms of your heart. He stands at the door and knocks, but we often only let Him into the foyer... if at all.

No room is too messy for God.

To realize and experience the magnitude of His love, you have to be open to receiving it and that means coming apart before God and confessing even the most embarrassing stuff... letting Him into the messiest places.

I tell you all this today because I am realizing that there are a couple of rooms I've unknowingly kept padlocked. I only thought I had let Him have access to my entire being.

It's time to dig up the key, unlock the door, let go, and let God.

How is Part 5 of our study affecting you? I'd love to hear from ya.

Stop, Drop and Pray

Part 5 ~ Chapter 34 Part 3

I am beginning to understand that I don't see myself how God sees me. Perhaps this is all about an identity crisis?

Can you relate? Please share.

I do now realize another component to this chapter that is causing me to dig deeper: Psalm 107 and rebellion against God.

Just as Beth points out, verse 12 is startling. God "subjected them to bitter labor... and there was no one to help."

I believe that God wants only the best for us. I have to really pray about how He handles us when we are rebellious.

Perhaps I'm hung up on this chapter because it touches a very deep place in my being. I grew up with the "fear of God," but it was in the way that I feared His wrath. While I knew "Jesus loves the little children," I didn't always focus on that. I focused on "obeying God or else."

Please let me say that I wasn't abused and I don't remember anybody cramming this idea down my throat. I do remember being afraid of God, though. I'm not sure how this way of thinking became a true concept for me.

As an adult (over the past 2 years), I have come to know a very loving God. God is love. While I've known this for a very long time, I don't think it was a true reality... just a concept. Does that make sense?

Maybe I need to spend a lot of time meditating on God's unfailing love and the freedom that comes with it, ie., Chapter 34. That would make sense considering how much I've thought about all I've done wrong and why couldn't possibly love me as much as He says He does.

Now, is this teetering on unbelief?

Whew! I'm exhausted! I'm at that point where there's a lot to process, but I do believe the truth is coming to the surface.

Thank you for listening.

I realize that I need to spend a lot more time with this chapter, but I am going to move on... coming back often to meditate on Chapter 34 until I realize the full scope of what God is trying to teach me here.

I feel like I might find the answers as I move on...

LOL... I just peeked at the next chapters to see if anything popped out at me. After reading the titles to Chapters 35-37, I am feeling like Chapter 36 (Failure to Believe God's Unfailing Love) could help. ; )

God is good!

Stop, Drop, and Pray. Then, let's move on... revisiting when we need to... but moving forward in the quest for knowledge! : )

Part 5 ~ Chapter 34 Part 2

After re-reading the chapter 4 times, I am still trying to discern the message God wants me to take away from this part and/or what I'm specifically supposed to learn.

Do you ever get the feeling that there is something you're missing? If you can relate, then you know how I feel about this chapter.

As a whole, the actual words make sense and there are obvious lessons to be learned. I cannot, however, get past the feeling that there is a nugget of truth or even a pot of gold for me to discover here, and I'm just not getting it.

Please forgive me for being disjointed with these posts on Chapter 34. I'm going to try and pick it all apart.

On page 197, Beth Moore says she used to struggle with the truth of the depths of God's love. She says, "We readily accept God's love for others but struggle with the belief that He loves us equally, radically, completely and unfailingly."

Beth goes on to say that she struggled with this because of her "own sins and weaknesses," and she focused on all the reasons He shouldn't love her.

Maybe this is my problem, too. I have often meditated (not purposely, mind you) on the reasons God shouldn't love me... why I'm "not good enough" to be God's child and how He must look at me because of my sin.

Looking at this now, I see the unhealthy thought patterns that have skewed my mind and emotions.

Maybe I should start with learning how to love myself and forgive myself? If I can look at myself the way God looks at me (based on truths, not what I think b/c of my sins), then perhaps I'll be able to accept the full scope of God's love for me.

Stop, Drop and Pray

Part 5 ~ Chapter 34

Wow, what a message! Did this chapter open your eyes and ears like it did mine? This is one of those that I'm going to have to park on.

While I read the whole chapter and then went back to focus on individual parts, I'm having a hard time completely wrapping my brain around everything that was written.

I'll come back and add to this post (in "parts") as I discern the message God is giving me, but in the meantime... this chapter is deep and I need some more time with it.

Can you help me work through this? Please share your thoughts on this chapter. Perhaps your own comments will open up the understanding for me. How did you answer the study questions?

Is it safe to say that this chapter speaks to the phrase, "That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger" (philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche)?

Stop, Drop and Pray. I know I need your prayers today!

Part 5 ~ Chapter 33

Love, Love, Love

It's the Greatest Commandment, all we need, what we long for. Right?

As we turn the page to another chapter, we also begin Part 5 of our journey today!

Do you find it ironic that our earthly parents and caretakers are constantly, lovingly pushing us away from our temporal home while our Heavenly Parent constantly, lovingly pulls us towards our eternal home?

This irony struck me as I read the words of the child psychologist Beth quotes on page 194 of our study: "If the bond we had with them as infants did not change, we would never be able to let them go" (referring to a parent/caretaker's relationship with their teenagers).

Switching gears completely now...

I am reading a fiction book right now from the Yada Yada Prayer Group series. Now, if you know me well, then you probably know that I rarely read fiction. I'm actually a non-fiction kinda girl. Fiction has to be really good to draw me in and keep me reading. So, long story short... this is a REALLY good series of stories. Very inspirational.

Just last night, the fictional prayer group in the series gathered for a meeting and they quoted, from Psalms, the "His love endures forever" passage. They went on to shout woes and trials, praise and glory, requests and answers... but they followed them all with the same line...

His love endures forever!

No matter what happens in life... know that He is faithful and His love endures forever. There is nothing, no one like God! He is our Rock, Salvation, Every Present Hope, Mighty Warrior, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One, Emmanuel - God With Us!

This passage means so much to me because it was "played out" another time in my life. I was chaperoning a youth group last summer when about 30 African children showed up to sing to us. What a blessing! It would take quite a bit of writing, then reading on your part, to describe the amazing event. Just please know it was real special.

At one point in their presentation, the microphone was passed from child to child as they spoke words of praise to God... then followed it with...

"His love endures forever!"

No matter what's going on in your life, no matter who has betrayed you, no matter the circumstance...

His love endures forever!

Sweet Mercy! AGAPE!!! ; )

Stop, Drop and Pray